Praline Cookies

These cookies are inspired by the old fashioned pralines.  Its a simple cookie made with brown sugar rather than white sugar then the praline top is actual candy - it hardens on top.  The original recipe came from the NC Pillsbury Bake Off contest in 1959 - clearly before any of us were worried with sugar! 

Cookies:
1 1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter or marg
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsps. baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

Candy Top:
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup half/half or cream (can use lactose free if you need to)
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup coarsely chopped pecans

Heat the oven to 350 degrees.  Spray the cookie sheet with PAM; cream together the brown sugar and butter/marg for the cookies until light and fluffy.  Add the vanilla and egg, mix well.  Combine all the dry ingredients for the cookie in a separate bowl then slowly add to the wet mixture.  Roll into balls using about 1 tbls of batter, 2 inches apart on the cookie sheet.  Bake for about 10-12 minutes; let cool on the cookie sheet for about a minute then remove to a place for putting the candy on top.

When all cookies are done, put a little bit of the chopped pecans under candy top list on each cookie, spacing it out evenly.  In a small saucepan coming the brown sugar and half/half or cream over medium heat until it boils - boil it EXACTLY 2 minutes stirring constantly - it won't turn out if you don't.  Remove from heat and stir in the powdered sugar until all dissolved - immediately drizzle on each cookie over the pecans - it will harden as it cools so be a little fast with this.  Should make about 36 cookies.